BS in Biomedical Engineering

Degree Program Description

The Biomedical Engineering undergraduate degree program offers four tracks from which our students can develop their primary expertise: biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical imaging and instrumentation, and bioinformatics. In collaboration with colleagues from the School of Medicine, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Health Sciences, the Sinclair School of Nursing, the Honors College, and the College of Engineering, we develop students into engineering leaders with skills in creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, engineering design, communication, entrepreneurship, and team-building. Our award-winning faculty offer exceptional classes and research experiences for our students, and our flexible, tracked curriculum integrates easily with the pre-medicine and Honors Certificate programs, as well as a number of accelerated plans to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degrees at MU. 

Biomedical engineering is a science-based engineering discipline that integrates engineering and biomedical sciences in one curriculum. The MU biomedical engineering program is a broad-based curriculum that prepares students for careers in traditional engineering as well as medicine, veterinary medicine, law, health care, policy, and academics. Biomedical engineering graduates are hired by biotechnology, medical, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as by government agencies and major research laboratories. Many of our undergraduate students attend graduate, medical, or law schools post-graduation. Graduates are well-prepared to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam during their senior year, which is the first step toward obtaining a Professional Engineer license; many additionally take the MCAT, the LSAT, and the GRE in preparation for their graduate or professional studies.

Major Program Requirements

The curriculum encompasses basic sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities and fine arts, engineering sciences and topics, and program core courses. The core courses cover topics of biomedical engineering principles and design. In a capstone design course sequence, each student completes a design project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Technical electives allow students to place emphasis on biomaterials, biomechanics, bioinformatics, and biomedical imaging and instrumentation.

Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering are required to complete all University general educationUniversity undergraduate requirements, degree, and major requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements. All pre-requisites required for Basic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Technical Elective courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Courses designated a core biomedical engineering course must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Students are also required to complete one 3-hour cultural awareness course which is selected from an approved cultural awareness course list, created and maintained by the College of Engineering or which meets the Arts and Science (A&S) diversity intensive (DI) requirement.

Major Core Requirements

General Requirements21
ENGLSH 1000Writing and Rhetoric3
or ENGLSH 1000H Honors Writing and Rhetoric
Two courses that meet the campus designation for Writing Intensive requirements, with one at 3000 level or higher in your major.
One course that meets the designation of a cultural awareness course (from approved list).
Social and Behavioral Sciences9
Economics (from approved list)3
Principles of Microeconomics (suggested as it meets the requirements for a cultural awareness course.)
Principles of Microeconomics-Honors
History (from approved list)3
Humanities and Fine Arts9
Ethics (from approved list)3
Suggested to have at least one course that meets requirements for Writing Intensive designation and at least one BS/SS or H/FA course at 2000 level or greater.
Math and Statistics19
MATH 1500Analytic Geometry and Calculus I5
MATH 1700Calculus II5
MATH 2300Calculus III3
MATH 4100Differential Equations3
STAT 4710Introduction to Mathematical Statistics3
Basic Sciences29
BIO_SC 1500Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory5
PHYSCS 2750University Physics I5
PHYSCS 2760University Physics II5
CHEM 1320College Chemistry I4
CHEM 2100Organic Chemistry I3
Cell and Molecular Biology (from approved list)4
Physiology (from approved list)3
Basic Engineering18
ENGINR 1000Introduction to Engineering1
ENGINR 1050Foundations of Engineering2
ENGINR 1200Statics and Elementary Strength of Materials3
ENGINR 2200Intermediate Strength of Materials3
Engineering Graphics (from approved list)3
Fluid Mechanics (from approved list)3
Thermodynamics (from approved list)3
Biomedical Engineering Core17
BME 2000Professional Development in Engineering2
BME 2080Introduction to Programming for Engineers3
or CMP_SC 1050 Algorithm Design and Programming I
or INFOTC 1040 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming
NOTE: only students in the Bioinformatics Track can count CMP_SC 1050/INFOTC 1040
BME 2180Engineering Analysis of Bioprocesses3
BME 3180Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems3
BME 4380Applied Electronic Instrumentation4
BME 4980WBiomedical Engineering Design - Writing Intensive3
Technical Electives24
Upper-level engineering courses, with 24 credit hours in a single track24

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Biomedical Engineering Tracks

Bioinformatics Track (2 Requisites, 6 Electives)24
CS-Driven Path Requisites
CMP_SC 2050Algorithm Design and Programming II4
CMP_SC 3380Database Applications and Information Systems3
IT-Driven (Big Data) Path Requisites
INFOTC 2040Programming Languages and Paradigms3
INFOTC 3380Database Systems and Applications3
Track Electives
Select 4-6 of the following:
BME 4001Topics in Biomedical Engineering (Medical Image Data Collection and Management)3-9
BME 4003Design and Development of Biomedical Innovation3
BME 4075Brain Signals and Brain Machine Interfaces3
BME 4085Problems in Biomedical Engineering1-5
BME 4470Biomolecular Engineering and Nanbiotechnology3
or BME 4470H Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology - Honors
BME 4540Neural Models and Machine Learning3
BME 4590Computational Neuroscience4
BME 4940Engineering Internship1-3
BME 4985Bioengineering Design II1-5
BME 4990Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering1-6
BME 4995HUndergraduate Honors Research in Biomedical Engineering1-5
ECE 4655Digital image Processing3
ECE 4720Introduction to Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition3
Select up to 2 of the following:
CMP_SC 4080Parallel Programming for High Performance Computing3
CMP_SC 4750Artificial Intelligence I3
CMP_SC 4770Introduction to Computational Intelligence3
CMP_SC 7010Computational Methods in Bioinformatics3
HMI 4431Foundation of Public Health Informatics 3
HMI 4440Health Information Technology3
Biomedical Imaging & Instrumentation Track (1 Requisite, 7 Electives)24
Track Requisite
ENGINR 2100Circuit Theory for Engineers3
Track Electives
Select from 3-5 of the following:
BME 4075Brain Signals and Brain Machine Interfaces3
BME 4420/4001Introduction to Biomedical Imaging (or BME 4001 Engineering in Medical Imaging)3
BME 4570Fluorescent Imaging3
BME 4770Biomedical Optics3
BME 4970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
Select an additional 2-4 courses from the following, in addition to any not completed above:
BME 4001Topics in Biomedical Engineering (Medical Image Data Collection and Management)3
BME 4003Design and Development of Biomedical Innovation3
BIOL_EN 4070Bioelectricity3
BME 4085Problems in Biomedical Engineering1-5
BME 4470Biomolecular Engineering and Nanbiotechnology3
or BME 4470H Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology - Honors
BME 4540Neural Models and Machine Learning3
BME 4590Computational Neuroscience4
BME 4940Engineering Internship1-3
BME 4972Engineering in Medical Imaging I: Non-Ionizing Techniques3
BME 4973Engineering in Medical Imaging II: Ionizing Techniques3
BME 4985Bioengineering Design II1-5
BME 4990Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering1-6
BME 4995HUndergraduate Honors Research in Biomedical Engineering1-5
ECE 4620Introduction to BioMEMS3
Biomechanics Track (3 Requisites, 6 Electives)24
MAE 2600Dynamics3
MATH 4300Numerical Analysis3
BME 4370Orthopaedic Biomechanics3
Track Electives
BME 3075Introduction to Materials Engineering3
BME 3170Biomaterials3
BME 4003Design and Development of Biomedical Innovation3
BIOL_EN 4070Bioelectricity3
BME 4085Problems in Biomedical Engineering1-5
BME 4170Biomaterials Interfaces of Implantable Devices3
BME 4375Human Movement Biomechanics3
BME 4470Biomolecular Engineering and Nanbiotechnology3
or BME 4470H Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology - Honors
BME 4480Physics and Chemistry of Materials3
BME 4940Engineering Internship1-3
BME 4970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
BME 4985Bioengineering Design II1-5
BME 4990Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering1-6
BME 4995HUndergraduate Honors Research in Biomedical Engineering1-5
Biomaterials Track (3 Requisites, 5 Electives)24
BME 3075Introduction to Materials Engineering3
BME 3170Biomaterials3
BME 4480Physics and Chemistry of Materials3
Track Electives
BME 4003Design and Development of Biomedical Innovation3
BIOL_EN 4070Bioelectricity3
BME 4075Brain Signals and Brain Machine Interfaces3
BME 4085Problems in Biomedical Engineering1-5
BME 4170Biomaterials Interfaces of Implantable Devices3
BIOL_EN 4231Transport Phenomena in Materials Processing3
BME 4360Biomanufacturing Technologies3
BME 4370Orthopaedic Biomechanics3
BME 4470Biomolecular Engineering and Nanbiotechnology3
or BME 4470H Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology - Honors
BME 4770Biomedical Optics3
BME 4940Engineering Internship1-3
BME 4970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
BME 4985Bioengineering Design II1-5
BME 4990Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering1-6
BME 4995HUndergraduate Honors Research in Biomedical Engineering1-5
CH_ENG 3262Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II3
CH_ENG 4319Introduction to Polymers3

Approved Electives

Cultural Awareness Course Approved List3
Economics Approved List
ECONOM 1014Principles of Microeconomics3
or ECONOM 1014H Principles of Microeconomics-Honors
NOTE: ECONOM 1014H fulfills the requirement of a cultural awareness course.
ECONOM 1015Principles of Macroeconomics3
or ECONOM 1015H Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors
ECONOM 1051HGeneral Economics - Honors5
ABM 1041Applied Microeconomics3
ABM 1042Applied Macroeconomics3
IMSE 2710Engineering Economic Decision-Making3
History Approved List
HIST 1100Survey of American History to 18653
or HIST 1100H Survey of American History to 1865 - Honors
HIST 1200Survey of American History Since 18653
or HIST 1200H Survey of American History Since 1865 - Honors
HIST 1400American History5
HIST 2210Twentieth Century America3
HIST 2440History of Missouri3
or HIST 2440H History of Missouri - Honors
HIST 4000Age of Jefferson3
HIST 4220U.S. Society Between the Wars 1918-19453
HIST 4230Our Times: United States Since 19453
POL_SC 1100American Government3
or POL_SC 1100H American Government - Honors
POL_SC 2100State Government3
Ethics Approved List
PHIL 2440Medical Ethics (recommended)3
PHIL 1150Introductory Bioethics3
CDS 4480Clinical Ethics3
or CDS 4480W Clinical Ethics - Writing Intensive
NOTE: CDS 4480(W) fulfills both the ethics requirement and the writing intensive designation requirement, but does not count as a H/FA elective.
Cell and Molecular Biology Approved List
BME 2070Cell and Molecular Biology for Engineers4
BIO_SC 2300Introduction to Cell Biology4
Physiology Approved List
MPP 3202Elements of Physiology5
MPP 3550Physiology for Engineers3
BIO_SC 3700Human Physiology5
Engineering Graphics Approved List
MAE 1100Introduction to Computer Aided Design3
or MAE 1100H Introduction to Computer Aided Design - Honors
ENGINR 1100Engineering Graphics Fundamentals2
or ENGINR 1100H Engineering Graphics Fundamentals - Honors
ENGINR 1110Solid Modeling for Engineering Design1
NOTE: If ENGINR 1100 or 1100H is taken, then ENGINR 1110 must also be taken.
Fluid Mechanics Approved List
BME 3070Biological Fluid Mechanics3
CV_ENG 3700Fluid Mechanics3
MAE 3400Fluid Mechanics3
Thermodynamics Approved List
ENGINR 2300Engineering Thermodynamics3
CH_ENG 3261Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I3

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Accelerated BS to MS in Biological Engineering

The accelerated option will allow students to earn a BS in Biomedical Engineering and an MS in Biological Engineering within five years. Eligible students who have completed at least 90 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and higher. The academic requirements of the accelerated MS program will require a total of 30 credit hours to graduate. Accepted undergraduate students can take 12 hours of graduate level courses that will count toward both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees. Once the student has completed 127 credit hours, the corresponding bachelor’s degree will be conferred and they will become graduate students in our MS programs to complete the remaining 18 hours of graduate credit. A minimum of 15 credit hours must be from courses at the 8000 level or above.  

Total credits required for graduation must be at least 138 total credit hours:

  • Total undergraduate credit hours: 127
  • Total dual enrollment credit hours: 12
  • Total graduate credit hours: 30
First Year (as Provisional Graduate Student)12
7000+ level BE tech electives9
7000+ level statistics course3
Second Year (as Graduate Student)18
Thesis Option
BIOL_EN 8402Research Methods2
BIOL_EN 8087Seminar in Biological Engineering1
BIOL_EN 8180Numerical Methods in Engineering Research3
8000+ level BE electives6
BIOL_EN 8990Masters Thesis Research in Biological Engineering6
Non Thesis Option
7000+ level course3
BIOL_EN 8180Numerical Methods in Engineering Research3
8000+ level BE electives9
BIOL_EN 8085Problems in Biological Engineering3
1.

At least 15 hours must be from 8000 level and above.  Coursework has to be from at least two different proficiency areas.

Proficiency Areas

A student needs to take at least one course from a minimum of two different areas.

Bioprocess Engineering
BIOL_EN 7001Topics in Biological Engineering1-3
BIOL_EN 7160Food Process Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7315Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7316Biomass Refinery Operation3
BIOL_EN 8001Advanced Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Advanced Bioprocessing & Biocatalyst)1-3
BIOL_EN 8280Advanced Biological Transport Processes3
Bioenvironmental Engineering
BIOL_EN 7150Soil and Water Conservation Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7250Irrigation and Drainage Engineering3
BIOL_EN 7350Watershed Modeling Using GIS3
BIOL_EN 7450Environmental Hydrology3
BIOL_EN 7560Observing the Earth from Space3
BIOL_EN 8250Water Management Theory3
Bioelectronics and Instrumentation
BIOL_EN 7070Bioelectricity3
BIOL_EN 7075Brain Signals and Brain Machine Interfaces3
BIOL_EN 7310Feedback Control Systems3
BIOL_EN 7380Applied Electronic Instrumentation4
BIOL_EN 7540Neural Models and Machine Learning3
BIOL_EN 7590Computational Neuroscience4
BIOL_EN 8380Modeling and Identification of Engineering Systems3
Biomaterials
BIOL_EN 7170Biomaterials Interfaces of Implantable Devices3
BIOL_EN 7370Orthopaedic Biomechanics3
BIOL_EN 7480Physics and Chemistry of Materials3
BIOL_EN 8001Advanced Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Tissue Engineering)1-3
BIOL_EN 8370Materials Characterization Techniques3
BIOL_EN 8670Orthopaedic Failure Modes and Effect Analysis3
BIOL_EN 8870Molecular and Cell Mechanics3
Biomedical Innovation
BIOL_EN 8000Scientific Discovery Leading to Life Science Innovations3
BIOL_EN 8004Regulatory Issues in Clinical Research and Clinical Trials3
BIOL_EN 8100Design and Development of Biomedical Innovations3
BIOL_EN 8200Commercialization of Life Science Innovations3
Biophotonics and Bioimaging
BIOL_EN 7420Introduction to Biomedical Imaging3
BIOL_EN 7570Fluorescent Imaging3
BIOL_EN 7770Biomedical Optics3
BIOL_EN 7970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
BIOL_EN 8270Principles and Applications of Fluorescence3
BIOL_EN 8570Microscopic Imaging3
BIOL_EN 8970Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging3
Biosensing
BIOL_EN 7470Biomolecular Engineering and Nanobiotechnology3
BIOL_EN 7670Photonics and Nanotechnologies in Optical Biosensors3
BIOL_EN 7001Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Wearable Biomedical Devices)1-3
BIOL_EN 8001Advanced Topics in Biological Engineering (Topic: Bioelectronics & Biosensors)1-3
BIOL_EN 8170Sensors and Biosensors3
BIOL_EN 8470Ultrasensitive Biodetection3

Thesis/Non-Thesis Options

All MS students must complete an independent research project supervised by their faculty advisors. Students can choose a thesis (MST) or non-thesis (MSNT) option to complete the masters degree. Both require a total of 30 graduate credit hours and a research project. MST students can take 6 to 12 credit hours of masters research and are required to complete a masters thesis conforming to the Graduate School thesis specifications. MSNT students must take a minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate courses, excluding research and problems courses, and complete a project report approved by the examination committee. During their last semester in the program, students must defend their thesis or project report in front of an examination committee composed of their graduate advisor and at least two other faculty members. 

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester.  A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 15005MATH 17005
CHEM 13204PHYSCS 27505
MAE 11003CHEM 21003
ENGLSH 10003ENGINR 10502
ENGINR 10001BS/SS Economics Elective3
 16 18
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL_EN 20803BIOL_EN 20002
MATH 23003MATH 41003
PHYSCS 27605BIOL_EN 21803
BIO_SC 22004BIO_SC 23004
 ENGINR 12003
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGINR 23003STAT 47103
ENGINR 22003Physiology (from approved list)5
ENGINR 21003BIOL_EN 31803
Fluid Mechanics (from approved list)3BIOL_EN 43804
 Humanities or Fine Arts Elective (Ethics from Approved List)3
 12 18
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL_EN 4980W3Track Requisite or Elective3
Track Requisite or Elective3Track Requisite or Elective3
Track Requisite or Elective3Track Requisite or Elective3
Track Requisite or Elective3Track Requisite or Elective3
BS/SS Elective (American Government or History)3BS/SS Elective3
Humanities or Fine Arts Elective3H/FA Elective3
 18 18
Total Credits: 130

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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